Lidl responds after Buncrana customer raises concerns over bread waste
‘Preventing food waste is a key priority across our operations’ – says supermarket
Lidl has defended its approach to dealing with surplus food after a photograph showing a large quantity of bread and pastries being discarded at its Buncrana store attracted considerable attention on social media.
The supermarket chain said preventing food waste was a key priority across its operations, explaining that surplus food nearing the end of its shelf life was first discounted, with remaining edible items donated to local charities through its partnership with FoodCloud.
The response follows a post by a Buncrana customer on Tuesday night, who expressed dismay after encountering a large plastic container filled with hundreds of loaves, doughnuts, pastries and croissants apparently destined for disposal at the store.
Questioning why the food could not instead be made available to people free of charge, the customer said they had gone into Lidl to purchase a sourdough loaf but were shocked by what they saw.
The photograph and comments prompted considerable reaction online, with concerns raised about the amount of perfectly good food potentially going to waste when it could be of benefit to people struggling with the cost of living.
Responding to the issue, Lidl Ireland said: “At Lidl Ireland, preventing food waste is a key priority across our operations. Before donating any surplus stock, our store teams first check that the items are undamaged, meet strict food safety requirements, as well as ensuring local charities have the logistical capacity to collect food donations.”
“Anything that does not meet these rigorous standards cannot be sold or donated.”
“Across all of our stores, surplus food nearing the end of its shelf life is first discounted. Remaining edible items are then donated to local charities via our longstanding partnership with FoodCloud.”
The company added that its FoodCloud partnership had helped redistribute more than seven million meals to over 400 local food banks across the island of Ireland.
Lidl also said it was currently piloting a food waste initiative specifically for its bakery category, which it hoped to roll out to stores in the coming months.
The company said it remained committed to accelerating its progress in reducing food waste and supporting communities across the country.